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Venice Hotel Tax: What it Costs & How to Avoid It

· Updated · BootsnAll

2011 is, as far as I’m concerned, going to be known henceforth as the year of the hotel taxes in Italy.
In January 2011, Rome added a new per-night tax on hotels in the city. In July 2011, Florence followed suit. On August 24, 2011, Venice added a per-night hotel tax of its own. Since these are the main cities most visitors to Italy want to see, it’s unlikely that vast numbers of tourists will all of a sudden say, “Right, we’ll just skip those cities, then.” For most people, it’s going to be a case of budgeting an extra few euro each night to make their Italy trip a reality.
There are differences in how much is charged per night according to the kind of accommodation you choose, however, as is the case in Rome and Florence. Here, then, is what you need to know about the Venice hotel tax, including how much it will cost for the various accommodation categories in the city as well as some ideas to help you avoid paying more tax than you need to during your trip.

Venice Hotel Tax Breakdown: What You’ll Pay

Like the taxes in Rome and Florence, the hotel tax in Venice is partly based on how many stars a hotel has: more stars means a higher per-night tax. In Venice, however, there are added complexities. The city has changed the rates several times since 2011, but the tax still depends on three things:

  • Location of hotel: The highest rates apply in the historic center of Venice (including the Giudecca). In 2026 places on the Lido and the other lagoon islands (such as Murano, Burano, and Torcello) paid 20% less, and places on the mainland 30% less.
  • Type and rating of lodging: Hotels are taxed by their stars, and B&Bs, campsites, agriturismi and vacation rentals each have their own rates.
  • Dates of your stay: Stays in the low season cost less. In 2026 that meant 30% less in January.

Here’s roughly what you’ll pay per person/per night in the historic center in 2026:

  • 5-star hotels: €5
  • 4-star hotels: €4.50
  • 3-star hotels: €3.50
  • 2-star hotels: €2
  • 1-star hotels: €1
  • B&Bs: €2 to €5, depending on their rating
  • Vacation rentals: up to €5
  • Agriturismi: €2
  • Campsites: €0.10 to €0.50

Important notes about the tax:

  • Per person and per night: Children under the age of 10 are exempt, and children aged 10 to 16 pay half.
  • 5 nights maximum: If your visit to Venice is longer than 5 consecutive nights, you will only be charged through 5 nights.
  • How you pay: You pay it to your hotel or host at check-in or check-out, and it usually isn’t included in the price you booked.
  • Hostels: Don’t assume a hostel is exempt. Ask what it adds per night before you book.
  • Venice residents: Venice residents are exempt from this tax.
  • Rates change: In 2026 the city was discussing a rise, so check the city’s hotel tax page (in Italian) or ask your hotel before you go.

Day Trippers Pay Too: The Venice Access Fee

Since 2024 Venice has also charged day trippers a separate access fee on set peak days. In 2026 it applied on 60 days between April 3 and July 26, from 8:30 to 16:00, and cost €5 if you booked at least 4 days ahead and €10 after that. You pay it online at cda.ve.it and carry the QR code. If you’re sleeping in Venice, you don’t pay the access fee, because you’re already paying the hotel tax, but you still need to register for a free QR code. Check the calendar before you go: the 2027 dates hadn’t been announced by September 2026.

How to Avoid the Venice Hotel Tax (or At Least How to Pay Less)

What’s that? You don’t have long-lost cousins with a palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal, with whom you can stay during your Venice visit? Okay, so I’m being sarcastic, but you get the idea - the bottom line is that if you’ll be visiting Venice for anything more than a day trip (which I still highly recommend) you’re going to need to book a place to stay. And since August 24, 2011, that place to stay has cost a bit more.
Since the amount of the tax varies quite a bit, however, there are ways to avoid paying the highest tax rates. Here are things you can do to make your stay in Venice cheaper.

  • Skip Venice - Venice may be on your must-see list, and if that’s the case then this suggestion isn’t going to work. If you’re on the fence about Venice, however, or you’ve been to the city before, this new tax may be just enough of a push to look into a different destination instead.
  • Stay on the Other Lagoon Islands or the Mainland - As you’ll note from the rates above, the highest tax rates are on accommodation in Venice’s historic center. Places on the other lagoon islands are cheaper, and places on the mainland are cheaper still. If you can afford to stay in the historic center, I still think it’s worth the splurge even if it’s just one night. If you’re on a really tight budget, however, choosing a hotel on the mainland or one of the other lagoon islands could save you a bit of money.
  • Stick with Fewer Stars - Accommodation with a higher rating (whether it’s stars or some other category) will cost more in taxes, so booking a budget hotel that’s only got 1 or 2 stars will cost far less than a luxury hotel in the 4- or 5-star range.
  • Stay in B&Bs, Campgrounds, or Apartment Rentals - Both B&Bs and apartment rentals are likely to offer more for your money than a traditional hotel room (especially in the case of apartment rentals, which offer so much more space), though a top-rated B&B or rental can pay as much tax as a 5-star hotel. There are also a few campgrounds near Venice, and the nightly tax rate for those is minimal. These aren’t all of the tent-and-sleeping-bag variety, either - they’re sometimes called “tourist villages,” and have rustic lodging as well as tourist facilities on-site.
  • Stay in a Hostel: Venice doesn’t have as many hostels as other popular Italian cities, but a dorm bed is still one of the cheapest ways to sleep in the city. Ask each hostel what it adds for the tax so the price you see is the price you pay.
  • Visit in the Low Season: The tax is lower in the low season (30% lower in January in 2026), and so are room rates. Ask your hotel which dates count as low season.

Further reading about accommodation in Venice

photos, top to bottom, by: @rgs, cavorite